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least

Syllabification: (least)
Pronunciation: /lēst/
Translate least | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of least

determiner & pronoun

(usually the least)
  • smallest in amount, extent, or significance: [as determiner]:who has the least money? he never had the least idea what to do about it [as pronoun]:how others see me is the least of my worries it’s the least I can do

adverb

  • to the smallest extent or degree:my best number was the one I had practiced the least turning up when he was least expected only the least expensive lot sold I never hid the truth, least of all from you

adjective

  • used in names of very small animals and plants, e.g., least shrew.

Phrases

at least

  • 1not less than; at the minimum:clean the windows at least once a week
  • 2if nothing else (used to add a positive comment about a generally negative situation):the options aren’t complete, but at least they’re a start
  • 3anyway (used to modify something just stated):they seldom complained—officially at least

at the least (or very least)

  • 1(used after amounts) not less than; at the minimum:stay ten days at the least
  • 2taking the most pessimistic or unfavorable view:a program that is, at the very least, excellent PR for the hospital

least said, soonest mended

proverb a difficult situation will be resolved more quickly if there is no more discussion of it.

not in the least

not in the smallest degree; not at all:he was not in the least taken aback

not least

in particular; notably:there is a great deal at stake, not least in relation to the environment

to say the least

used as an understatement (implying the reality is more extreme, usually worse):his performance was disappointing to say the least

Origin:

Old English lǣst, lǣsest, of Germanic origin; related to less

On the punctuation of least in compound adjectives, see well1 (usage).

least in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of least in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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